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Your Model 64-3 .38 Military & Police Stainless Heavy Barrel was probably manufactured in 1984. The serial range for 1983 was 17D8901 to 21D0883. The standard Catalog of S&W then notes the last serial number before the change to the three letter four digit format was 30D9291. So 1984, maybe tailing into 1985.
As for the mis-stamping? Hangover, bad day at the office, fight with the wife, friday 4.45PM? Some one screwed up is all we can say for sure.

There is a recall on this model, with some magnum ammo the primer can flow back into the firing pin bushing, locking the cylinder. Under the recall S&W will pay shipping both ways and install a new firing pin and bushing.

Guns modified under the recall are marked with an M stamp near the model number under the cylinder yoke. If you wish to have your gun modified give S&W a call and they will send you a shipping label.

__________________
"If the truth hurts, it should." - Dad
"A year from now, ten? They'll swing back to the belief that they can make people... better. And I do not hold to that. So no more runnin'. I aim to misbehave." - Mal, Serenity
"Choot! Choot! Choot it!" - Troy Landry

ok im in. i have a smith i purchased just for the trigger which i believe has been worked on by somebody that knew his stuff. amazingly sweet youd have to pull it to appreciate it. anyway here goes.

65-3
.357 mag
2 1/2 in bbl
round butt i believe from looking at other sticky on here
6 shot
fixed orange front sight rear just a groove
s/n off the bottom of grip is ALB26xx

additional info it will help. the orange on the front sight is near the top of the ramp not the full front sight. on what im guessing is the crane (in front of the cylinder when flipped open) are two sets of numbers. C11 is lightly stamped and kind of funny looking with diagnol lines running through the 1s. below that X8428 is stamped.

one thing of key intrest to me is that on what i think is the front strap (metal on grip between grip and triggerguard i have a bunch of numbers poorly etched. 204-16-xxxx. im wondering why it would have those. i know it wont help you date it.

oh and its stainless.

thx in advance this is my favorite handgun by far. does nightstand duty most of the time and sometimes carry duty. my wife and i both shoot it any time we have extra $ for ammo and its what i used for taking my ccw class.

Last edited by mio; January 14, 2012 at 02:51 PM.
Reason: better description of front sight.

The numbers on the front strap of the grip are probably a former owner's social security number. There was a time before the electronic world made identity theft easy when people were encouraged to put their SSAN's on all of their property. I've seen lovely old Winchesters, Colts, Brownings, and Smith & Wessons defaced by stupid people's SSAN's. I'd see if that could be polished out if I were you.

Unfortunately, I don't have a clue when your gun was made other than it's later than 1982. If it's a Model 65 the barrel should be 3 inches, too.

Good luck. Sounds like a nice gun.

ECS

__________________
"If the truth hurts, it should." - Dad
"A year from now, ten? They'll swing back to the belief that they can make people... better. And I do not hold to that. So no more runnin'. I aim to misbehave." - Mal, Serenity
"Choot! Choot! Choot it!" - Troy Landry

hmmm i may have to put a tape to the barrel later. its definetly listed on my registration as 2 1/2 but im sure that could be dealer error. as to the etched numbers they are in way to deep to be polished out. i dont mind them being there though. never heard of getting your ss# etched into your gun though. i do know a few peeps that remove the grips or on a rifle the buttplate and put a little piece of paper with their initials or name and phone # shows how times change.

Your Model 66-2 Combat Magnum Stainless was manufactured in in early to mid 1987. Serial number AVB8654 shipped n July of that year.

mio:
Your Model 65-3 .357 Magnum Military & Police Heavy Barrel Stainl4ess was manufactured in late 1985. Gun in the ALAxxxx to ALCxxxx range shipped in November of that year.
The crane is the arm that the cylinder swings out on. Crane is actually colt speak, in S&W parlance it is the cylinder yoke and it fits into the cylinder yoke cut out in the frame. The markings on the yoke/crane and any in the cut out will be assembly numbers used to track parts in the factory. They have no meaning after the gun is assembled. If you remove the grips you will probably find more assembly numbers on the grip frame flats.
As mentioned by Elm Creek Smith the number on the frontstrap is probably a SSN. It could also be a departmental marking.

Elm Creek Smith:
The Model One & a Half New Model / Model One & a Half 2nd Issue was manufactured between 1868 & 1875 in the serial range 26301 to 127100.

The gun presented to President Ullysses S Grant was shipped August 1st 1870 with serial number 41993. So I guesstimate late 1870 or early 1871 for your gun.

I think your numbers and dates are correct for the .32 Rimfire Model 1½. Mine is the top-break centerfire .32 S&W Model 1½. Of course, I'd LOVE for mine to be in the same group as President Grant's pistol, but I think it runs in the later crowd.

ECS

__________________
"If the truth hurts, it should." - Dad
"A year from now, ten? They'll swing back to the belief that they can make people... better. And I do not hold to that. So no more runnin'. I aim to misbehave." - Mal, Serenity
"Choot! Choot! Choot it!" - Troy Landry

Elm Creek Smith:
Doh! My bad for not reading the .32 S&W. I can't give you a year for that model. They were manufactured between 1878 & 1892 in the serial range 1 - 97574.
Serial number 8837x shipped in August 1887, So 1878 to 1887, probably falling close to the middle of that period.

792mauser:
Your Model 36 Chiefs Special was manufactured between 1962 & 1969 in the serial range 295000 to 786544.
If the cylinder release is flat it is from 1966 or earlier.
If the cylinder release is concave it is from 1966 or later.
If the grips are original and there is an uncheckered diamond around the grip screws, then 1968 or earlier.
If the grips are original and the checkering runs up to the grip screws, then 1968 or 1969.

Your .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 was manufactured between 1906 & 1909 in the serial range 73251 to 146899.
If there are two pins in the extractor it is a 2nd Change variant, if not then a 1st Change variant. Both variants shared the same serial range.
Be aware that this gun predates heat treatment of cylinders and should only be fired with standard pressure lead loads, no PlusP, +P+, jacketed or semi jacketed ammo.
It also predates the positive internal hammer block safety and should be treated as a five shooter with the chamber under the hammer left empty. If dropped it could fire.

792mauser:
In addition, the gold colouring is called colur case hardening and should be the original finish on the hammer and trigger on both guns. Actual gold plated hammers and triggers were also available on presentation guns.

The serial number of gun 2 is 1082xx. The number under the crane is an assembly number, used to track parts in the factory. It has no meaning after the gun is completed.

I appreciate the info. I had no idea that the m&p was that old. It apparently is a second change m&p. I'm glad I haven't fired it yet. The mod36 has the checkering right up to the hole. So I believe it's from 68-69 then.
Thank you again for the reply and the information.

1. 44 magnum Classic
2. 8 3/8" barrel
3. Model 29-5
4. BPT5xxx
Got it in a prvt deal about 2 yrs ago.
Shoots like a dream. I think it is from around
1990, but would greatly appreciate it
If you could pin it down for me.

Moron_bubba:
Serial numbers in the BPKxxxx range shipped in December 1993, so early 1994 seems likely. The 29-5 was produced from 1991 to 1994 and has the endurance package of design changes, allowing for regular use of magnums with less chance of timing problems.

gjcab09:
Your model 64-5 .38 Military & Police Stainless Heavy Barrel probably shipped in 1995. Serial numbers in the BRFxxxx range shipped in August 1994 and in the CAMxxxx range in January 1996. The 64-5 was introduced in 1988.

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